Level and plumb



I March 12, 1929;, H. J. SWANSON LEVEL AND PLUMB Filed Feb. 10, 1926INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mat. 12, 1929.

stares eaten r cent ,HAN'S J. SWANSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LEVEL AND PLUIVIB.

Application filed February is the production of an instrument of this.

character wherein there is provided a simple combination and arrangementof parts for illuminating the tubes of the instrument tofacilitate'observation of the tubes when the instrument is used inpositions and places where a shadow is cast upon the level hinderingcorrect observation of the tubes or in places where there is notsufficient light to enable one to have proper sight of the tubes.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts'to behereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the. accompanyingdrawings wherein'the preferred form ofconstruction of my invention isshown and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention illustrating tion. d

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same. d

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 33 ofFig. 2.

Fig. l is a sectional View taken substan'- tially on line 4-4.- ofFig.2. I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary'sectional View taken substantially on line 55 ofFig. 2. p Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken substantially on line'66 ofFig. 2.

The invention in its preferred form of construction includes an oblongbody 10 formed of the proper material and provided in its top surface 11with a recess 12 and in anend nortion a transversely extending hole 13confined within which are the usual level tubes 12 and 13 respectively.7

The level tube 12 is held in its confined position by a plate 14 securedto the body as at 15 and provided with a sight opening 16 permitting.observation of this tube. The tube 13' is held in its confined positionby a plug 17 formed of theproper material.

The body includes a side plate 18 formed of proper material andextending the full length of the body and of a width equal to the widththereof. This plate serves as a cover for a compartment 19 formed in thebody 10 as best j the preferred form of construc- 10, 1926. Serial No.87,421.

illustrated in Fig. 2. The'body further is provided with a transverselyextending open, mg 20 extendmg substantially at right angles with thehole 13 servlng'as a sight opening to facilitate observation ofthetube13.

The tubes 12 and 13 are illuminated by means or lamps 21 positioned inreflectors 22 p which. project into the compartment 19 and secured inposition in the body by brackets 23 which engage the lamp receivingsockets 24 of the reflectors 22 as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. Ii

Asb'est illustrated in Figs 3 and 6 the brackets are arranged in pairswhereby they can be separated when found 1 necessary to remove thereflectors 22. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the body portions 22of thereflectors are seatedin recesses 25 formedin the body 10.

The end portion 10 of the body includes a compartment 26 and in thiscompartment is contined an electric batter-3727 WlliCllilS-CODQ nectedin circuit with the lamps in a manner to be hereinafter described. Theopen end 27 of this compartment is closed'by an end plate 28 whichispivotally connec'ted to the body 10 through the mediumof a suitableconnecting element 29. This'end plate is slotted as at 30 for thereception of a securing ele- Y ment 31 carried by the body 10. Thisarrangementis such that whenit'is desired to remove the battery 27, thescrew 31 is partially removed to permit the end plate to be pivotedabout theelement 29 to expose the battery through the open end 27 of thecompartment 26. The opposite end of the body is likewise provided withan end plate 32 which serves to protect this end of the body when thelevel isplac'ed in a verticalposition upon this end.

The battery is connected in circuit with approved push button switches33 through the medium of conductor wires 33 connected to a conductorstrip 34. having an angled end portion 35 in contact with the pole 36 ofthe battery as best illustrated in F ig. 2.

The-push button switches include casings 37 having the usual flanges 38perforated to ac- .eommodate securmg screws 39. The push button switchesfurther lnclude the usual spring controlled push buttons d0 which extendthrough openings 41 formed in the cover plate 18 as illustrated-in Fig.5. These push button ,switchesare connected in circuit with the lampsthrough the medium of conductor wires 42 and d3 connected to Contactstrips el having yieldable end portions 45 in contact with the cont-actpoints 46 of the lamps as best illustrated in Fig. 6. The lamps areconnected to the other pole 47 of the battery through the medium ofconductor wires 4-8 having end portions connected to the brackets 23engaging the socket receiving portions of the reflectors, and havingopposite end portions connected to a conductor strip 49 eX- tendingthrough a recess 49 formed in the body 10 and provided with a resilientend portion 50' in contact with the pole 47 of the electric battery. Bythe use of separate push button switches the lamps can be independentlyconnected in circuit with the electric battery 27 and independentlyilluminated.

The instrument is used in the usual manner known by those skilled in theart and in use, should the instrument be placed .in a dark corner or ina position where a shadow is cast upon the lever, proper observation ofthe tubes can be had by pushing the push button of the switchcontrolling the lamp contiguous of the exposed portion of the tube underobservation.

It is apparent that I not only provide a simple combination andarrangement of parts for illuminating the level tubes but that i alsoassemble the combination of elements in amanner whereby the elements canbe expeditiously associated and removed from as- 7 sociation with thebody when required or found necessary. v

While I have shown and described the preferred form oi my invention, it1s to be understood that various changes and alterations may be carriedout 1n manutacture without departing from tne spirit of the invention orthe scope of the appended claim.

The invention having been set forth, what I claim as new and useful is:

In a level structure, a body having a hollow interior and havingopenings adapted to receive level tubes, level tubes in said openings,said openings being in communication with said hollow interior, meansfor illuminating said level tubes including electric lamps, a webadapted to extend across one end 01 said hollow interior whereby toprovide two compartments, a battery having terininals at opposite endsmounted in one of said compartments, a clip having one end portionsecured in said hollow interior and having a portion extended throughthe other of said compartments and including a port-ion at the free end.thereof adapted to extend downwardly into engagementrwith the terminalat the outwardly disposed end of said batte-y, another clip mounted insaid interior and having a portion adapted to engage the terminal theother end of said t i y, means for connecting said clips and said lampswhereby to establish electrical connection between said lamps andsaidbattery, said last named means having switches provided therein adaptedto control opera tion of said lamps, and a movable plate at one d ofsaid body portion adapted to close the tcr ends of said two compartmentswhereby access may be obtained to the compartnent having said batterymounted therein.

in testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

HANS J. Sl VAllSON.

